Inland water transport (IWT) is an environment-friendly,
economical and cost-effective mode of transportation for passengers
and cargo as compared to roadways and railways. However, Indian
rivers and its tributaries are yet to be exploited for the
potential they offer for transportation, as also, for development
of shore side services, river cruises, tourism etc. Perennial
rivers that criss-cross India support a huge population which
largely depends on agriculture for sustenance though these river
banks are also home to religious and historical sites which draw to
them millions of tourists every year. Given the beauty and heritage
along the Indian rivers, the need of the hour is to facilitate
better utilization of our grand waterway as well as the river banks
for infrastructural development, including terminals and shore side
services such as hotels, restaurants, recreational sites, etc. The
government has taken various steps to increase investments in this
sector, including by amendment of the legislative framework.

Inland Waterways Authority of India
("IWAI"), a statutory authority
constituted under the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act,
1985, which is inter alia responsible for infrastructure
development and maintenance works on national waterways, had
designated 5 waterways totalling 4382 kilometres as National
Waterways with a view to improve navigability in India. IWAI has
been successful in attracting some private sector investment in
inland water transport through Joint Venture route, one of them
being the Vivada Inland Waterways Ltd which is mainly controlled
from Kolkata.

The National Waterways Act, 2016 was recently enacted in order
to amend the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985. The
amendments have added 106 additional inland waterways as the
national waterways, thereby increasing the total number of national
waterways to 111 from existing five national waterways. Further,
the Act of 2016 has also repealed the five statutes (dealing with
five notified National Waterways) that separately dealt with the
existing 5 national waterways and has included the same within the
new Act. The pronouncement of additional national waterways would
be of assistance in major overhaul of the movement of goods and
passengers by way of rivers around the country.

Initiatives to be taken for promotion of Inland Waterways

Since many Indian cities are connected by rivers, development
and promotion of river cruises connecting heritable sites is one of
the ways to enhance the potential of rivers plying throughout the
country. In fact, there has been a welcome development in this
regard. A river cruise vessel named 'M.V. Mahabaahu' is
being operated on the river Brahmaputra. Further, the Champions
Yacht Club has recently introduced a river cruise named
'Tanvi' on the river Krishna with a view to boost the
cruise tourism industry.

However, the inland waterway vessels are presently run on
diesel. In an attempt to ensure the usage of environment friendly
and cost effective fuel, there is widespread and urgent need to
adopt compressed natural gas (CNG) as a fuel for inland waterway
vessels. However, prior to suggesting any shift in the fuel, it
would be necessary to set up adequate CNG pump stations in areas
where CNG use for vehicles is not in vogue. While setting up CNG
pump stations, the financial viability of such pump stations would
also have to be considered.

Efforts are also underway to provide a secure environment for
the terminals and cruises, with a view to provide safe and secure
movement of tourists, check illegal transportation of goods, etc.
along the riverbanks which is matter of concern for respective
state governments. For instance, Government of Bihar has notified
certain river thanas / police stations on the banks of the river
Ganga.

Though the beauty and heritage along the Indian rivers is
unparalleled, the exploitation of the same has suffered on account
of lack of planning. It is to be noted that Indian rivers are home
to various temple towns and tourism and/or cruise vessels which
intend to provide tourists alcoholic drinks and non vegetarian food
may not find favour with the local traditions and sensitivities of
these temple towns. It would thus be better if virgin stretches at
select locations are earmarked for development of tourism and other
shore side services, with cruise vessels that take tourists to
adjoining temple towns or other localities of tourist interest.
Selection of such new river side areas for development would
provide the planners sufficient room for planned development.

The development of facilities like restaurants, hotels along
riverside requires certain short, medium and long term planning in
order to ensure adequate sewerage, water, power, terminal,
refuelling, waste and effluent treatment and other services and
amenities such that the developments are environmentally friendly
yet economically viable. Planning needs to include
environment-friendly measures such sewage and effluent treatment
plant, waste treatment, storm water drains, rain water harvesting
system and other waste management systems. While earmarking such
areas for development, the government will have to change its
approach from construction first and infrastructure later to
infrastructure first and construction to follow. Any well planned
development would not only be environmentally sustainable but would
also attract greater investments as well as users.

It may also be noted that there are no sound guidelines or
policies for environmental compliance in the development of shores,
terminals, etc. or for granting approvals / clearances pursuant to
fulfilment of environmental standards and stipulations. In this
regard the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change may
provide for guidelines for planning waterway development projects
and also ensure that such projects are attuned to environmental
protection requirements. Investments in development of shore side
infrastructure and services, including use of waterways for cruises
and other facilities, may not find much favour with investors
despite their huge potential on account of an overbearing National
Green Tribunal, which has interjected even in case of setting up of
temporary facilities along river banks, as seen in the case of
World Culture Festival organized on the banks of Yamuna by the Art
of Living Foundation, or setting up of camps for river rafting
along the Ganges. It is therefore necessary for the government to
address al l necessary environmental concerns and frame appropriate
guidelines for exploitation of river banks and rivers for
commercial purposes before beginning the process of development of
such facilities with private investment. The government should also
ensure that such guidelines are consistent with expectations of the
green lobby, including the National Green Tribunal.

Considering all the aforesaid concerns, it can be concluded that
the potential of navigable waterways and shore side and river
services needs to be widened as a complementary and environmentally
sustainable mode of transport, tourism and recreation. The
development and regulation of waterways and river services should
be critically examined and the concerned authorities should do away
with all the anomalies that have obstructed the evolution and
expansion of the sector. Government should lend a helping hand by
providing requisite infrastructure, introducing policies to promote
waterways. The government also needs to encourage the effective
participation of the private sector for construction and operation
of river ports, cruises and other services by earmarking virgin
stretches on river banks for planned development by way of
different arrangements including but not limited to Build Own
Operate and Transfer, Build Own Operate, joint venture, etc.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.

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